The leading vamps of telly land are in conversation with the show-makers who are yet to zero-in on one of them as the main antagonist

Now that things are hunky dory between Jodha Akbar, a new character in the form of Maha Chuchak will enter and create trouble for Akbar. A strong negative character, Maha Chuchak will be Akbar’s power hungry step mom whose aim is to dethrone him. She will be so evil that she will even go to the extent of trying and killing him. Says a source, “For the role of Maha Chuchak, the makers are looking for an actress with a strong negative persona. Sudha Chandran, Urvashi Dholakia and Meghna Malik have been approached.

Currently, talks are on and by the end of this week one of them will be finalised as the track will start soon. It’s a substantial role as she will be the main antagonist.” When contacted, both Urvashi and Meghna confirmed that they had been approached. Meghna currently seen in Ek Boond Ishq said that she had got the offer a few days ago.

“I was going out of the country then and I have just returned.” Urvashi also said that she was abroad for almost a month, and returned two days ago. “I don’t know what’s the situation now but it is always a pleasure to work with Balaji (Ekta Kapoor’s production house.) It’s like going back to my roots,” says Urvashi who became popular with her vamp act as Komolika in Ekta’s Kasauti Zindagi Kay.

Karan has replaced Cezanne in Mera Tera Rishta Purana

Even before the much delayed Ekta Kapoor show Mera Tera Rishta Purana is aired, the lead actor Cezanne Khan best remembered as Anurag of Kasauti Zindagi Kay has been replaced. According to sources, since the show got delayed there were some issues and Ekta has roped in her other favourite actor Karan Patel.

Karan agreed that he was in talks for the role and nothing is confirmed yet. “I have just returned to the country after a week. I will be meeting the producers soon and will let you know,” he said. Karan made his debut in Ekta’s show Kasturi and was last seen in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6.

Mera Tera… based on Manju Kapoor’s novel Custody also stars Divyanka Tripathi. The novel is an intimate portrait of marriages that disintegrate and intertwine, which is why probably the show is likely to be telecast at 11 pm. It is scheduled to go on air from October-end or first week of November.

They are just two of the several Gujarati shows on air currently that are doing extremely well

Gujarati culture came right into Indian drawing rooms with the popular television show Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka in 1999 and, after more than a decade, it is still one of the strongest flavours on the tube. Those based in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Maharashtra too abound on the small screen. Be it a weekly or a daily soap, the regional flavour is everywhere. But Gujarati shows dominate. Shows like Saath Nibhana Saathiya, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and Ram Milaayi Jodi are continuing the trend that started 13 years ago and hit a high with Baa Bahoo Aur Baby and Khichdi.

From showing a typical Gujarati household to their festivals, functions and colourful wardrobe, the shows spread the vibrant colours of the state to the remotest parts of the country. Actor-director Jamnadas Majethia, the man behind Khichdi and Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, told IANS: “I believe out of all, Gujarati and Punjabi cultures are the ones that almost everyone recognises. They are very colourful communities with a rich literature and the scope of entertainment is also much more than others. Shows based on these cultures get more TRPs. So for makers it becomes easier to do a show with a Gujarati or a Punjabi background.” Thanks to these shows, popular Gujarati dishes like khakra and thepla have become popular among the masses.

Of course, other regions too have been highlighted. Kasauti Zindagi Kay and Tere Liye revolved around Bengali families, while Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, Geet…Hui Sabse Parayi and Preeto were about Punjabi families. If Maryada is set in Haryana, Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha is set in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya is based in Uttar Pradesh and Afsar Bitiya is the story of a Bihari girl.

For producers, placing a show in a specific region or a culture makes production much easier. “When you give a show an identity like Gujarati, Punjabi or Marwari, it not only makes the viewers connect with the show but also helps makers in giving a background to the show in terms of costume, jewellery, dialect or characters,” said Rajan Shahi, producer of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, the story of a Marwadi family.

If people sitting in Bihar or Jharkhand these days know about Gujarati or Marathi culture, it is to a large extent because of these daily shows. “TV shows based on Gujarati, Marathi or Marwadi cultures have made audiences all over the country aware of the customs and rituals of different regions. The shows have broken barriers and brought people together,” Suzana Ghai, creative director, Star India, told IANS. “If the audiences are from that region, they know about it and watch it with more interest. If they are not, they want to know about different cultures and watch the show. So both ways, the shows gain popularity,” she added.

Also makers and writers from different regions are keen to tell stories about their part of the world. “I am a Gujarati myself and I know the state very well. So it becomes easier to play a Gujarati character or make a Gujarati show. Also, it’s a culture I have in-depth knowledge of,” said Majethia.

The trend of such shows is here to stay, said Ghai. “The makers are always in search of new ideas and keep experimenting. So we will see more shows based in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar or other regions,” she said.

It’s not that generic shows have stopped being made. Bade Acche Lagte Hain and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge are general in approach. The focus is more on the story instead of the regional background. “But I believe this trend will take some time to take over. Till then regional shows will continue to hog the limelight,” Shahi said.

I like doing it all. If you have tons of energy, you pretty much enjoy doing everything. I just cannot decide which one to focus on.

Does the lack of focus lead to problems?

It does. But it keeps me busy. It also doesn’t make me rely on any one stream of income. So you have ups and downs like everybody in the entertainment business has, but I usually keep myself safer by having that many different interests. Even if I may not have a show on the air, I would be still working…but that’s the good side. The flip side is that people sometimes get confused as to what to take you as – like a lot of people know me as RJ Tarana, and it’s a pleasant revelation (I hope) when they realise that I am also Neha from Bade Acche Lagte Hain. And the people who’ve known me as an actor all these years would have no clue that I am an RJ – unless they’re living in Mumbai. But I think of it as another dimension to me and it makes people happy.

What is the secret of your energy?

From childhood, I’ve been one hyper kid. And the hyper-ness is somehow working, so far.

So how did your mom manage you as child?

My mother’s another hyper one! I’ve completely taken it from her.

Should I then ask how your dad managed both of you?

I think my dad just happily ignored us (tongue-in-cheek).

And how did you channel such an abundance of energy?

I was always put in a lot of classes because I was such an energetic kid. I’ve learnt dancing for more than 20 years – I did Kathak for 12 years and I did Shiamak (Davar) for another 10 years….lots and lots of dancing!

Since you dance, haven’t you given choreography a thought as a career option?

There are too many things that I did already. Acting, hosting on stage, hosting on TV – pretty much the same line of work, as you’re a performer. RJ-ing is similar, but it’s just your voice, not your face. But as far as dancing was concerned, I was like ‘Now one more thing I don’t wanna do’. And I enjoy the process of dancing, but am not so much into choreography. It was a passion and a hobby. I was never really interested in making a living of it.

Do you have any plans to turn to direction?

My entire cast (co-stars of Bade Acche…) thinks I should become a director or a production guy or a scheduler (laughs), because I am involved in every department. I lurrrve looking into the nitty-gritty of a scene. I will notice every junior artiste, whether the shoes they are wearing are right, or they are maintaining continuity. It’s very annoying for my co-actors, but they indulge me and laugh; and when I get very annoying, they shut me up. Sakshi and me have decided that our next job is gonna be of producer and director. We’re totally involved in like ‘Woh curtain alag tha’ and stuff. This has nothing to do with shot-taking. We are involved in the whole scene, and with such keen interest; we are involved every department which is not even ours. If you’ve been around for so long, you will know these things. Unless you’re wrapped up in your own world. We’re not those kind of people.

Does Ekta Kapoor give you that much freedom? Has she offered you any more shows?

It has nothing to do with her. It’s our director who indulges us. As for Ekta, all Balaji Telefilms shows that I have done were because Ekta has said ‘I want her to play this role’. From Vishakha in Kasauti Zindagi Kay to Pooja in Kuchh Is Tarah to Kkusum to Neha in Bade Acche Lagte Hain. I have never regretted doing a Balaji show, because it’s always a show that I have enjoyed.

A long and indirect one that began way back in 2003 with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi

If you’ve seen Jodi Breakers, you will definitely remember a boxer who solicits help from Sid (R Madhavan) and Sonali (Bipasha Basu) so that he can divorce his wife. Did he seem familiar to you?

That’s because you have seen him before on your TV screens and known him as Tusshar, Shlok and Shravan. His friends however know him as Pradeep Kharab. The former model turned actor in 2003 when Ekta Kapoor offered him a role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. He played Tusshar, who was suddenly introduced when the family goes on a trip to Switzerland. Over the next two years, he moved on to play Shlok in Kkavyanjali and Shravan in Kasauti Zindagi Kay. He then quit television for movies and though he hasn’t starred in any Ekta Kapoor production, you can’t deny the connection. However long, tenuous and indirect it might seem at first thought.

It’s strange but the only Ekta Kapoor-discovered-male-TV-actor, who has managed to make a mark in Bollywood, is Eijaz Khan, with his Dilli ki sardi item number and his Punjabi act in Tanu Weds Manu. Amar Upadhyay didn’t make it at all. The less we say about the others, the better. Maybe Pradeep will have better luck.